Читать книгу History of Westchester County, New York, Volume 3 - Группа авторов - Страница 24

Holding rank among the leading business men of Mount Vernon, Frank Riggs Holmes is well known in commercial circles and sustains a high reputation for reliability and enterprise. He was born in New York city, January 16, 1868, a son of William and Lizzie (Kerchof) Holmes. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to Francis Holmes and his wife. Ann, who leaving their home in Yorkshire, England, in 1660, crossed the Atlantic to America and took up their residence in Stamford, Connecticut. Later they removed to Bedford, Westchester county. New York, becoming pioneer settlers of that locality. One of their sons, James Holmes, a direct ancestor of our subject, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and John Holmes, Sr., became one of the original proprietors of Bedford in 1681. He had six sons and two daughters, and died in 1720, at the age of ninety years. Richard Holmes married Miss Mary Miller, and they reside in the town of Bedford, Westchester county. He served as tax collector in 1724, and later participated in the French and Indian war. One of his sons, Richard Holmes, was a lieutenant in the British army in 1737, and was the father of Peter Holmes, who married Mary Holmes, and served his country in the Revolutionary war. He held the rank of ensign, and later he again entered his country's service in the war of 1812. John Holmes, a son of Peter, was born December 31, 1752, also loyally espoused the cause of independence as a Revolutionary hero and was at one time a member of the continental congress. He married Catherine Slawson, May 13, 1779, and died December 24, 1839. One of his sons, James Holmes, was born May 27, 1784, married Elizabeth Starr, and died in Monticello, New York, in 1817.

William A. Holmes, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Bedford, and after attaining to man's estate became engaged in the real-estate business in New York city. He possessed splendid business and executive ability, and by his judicious investments and careful management amassed considerable property. The latter years, of his life were spent in retirement from business cares, in his pleasant home in Mount Vernon. In his political views he was a stanch Republican, and while residing in Dutchess county, New York, he held the office of judge. He first married a Miss Brill, and their son, James Henry Holmes, is ex-secretary of the territory of New Mexico, and is now a prominent lawyer and real-estate dealer of New York city. After the death of his first wife Judge Holmes married Alta Riggs, who is still living, at the age of ninety years. Their children .were William; Agnes, wife of Robert Taylor, a physician of New York city; and Herbert, who is living a retired life in Mount Vernon. Betsy Holmes, the wife of a Mr. Squires, who served in the Revolution, lived to be one hundred and two years of age.

William Holmes, the father of our subject, was born in Poughquag, Dutchess county, in December, 1844, attended the district schools of that neighborhood, and the public schools of New York city. There he engaged a business with his father, and subsequently became the owner of considerable property. For some time he carried on the grocery trade at the corner of Fortieth street and Sixth avenue, but in 1887 he removed with his family to Mount Vernon, where he has since conducted a large and profitable grocery and dairy business. He has admitted his son Frank to a partnership, under the firm name of Holmes & Son, and the firm ranks foremost among the leaders in the line. In his political views he is a Republican, socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, and in his religious views he is a Presbyterian. He was also at one time a member of the old volunteer fire department of New York city. He has two sons, Frank R. and Robert Wallace, the latter an electrician, formerly with the Edison Electric Company, but now a resident of Denver, Colorado.

Frank Riggs Holmes pursued his education in the public schools of New York city and was graduated with the class of 1888. He then engaged in the brush-importing business in the metropolis for a time, and later was connected with other enterprises. In the meantime he had become interested in the grocery and dairy business at Mount Vernon, and in 1897 removed his family to this city, where he has since resided. He now devotes his attention almost exclusively to the conduct of their extensive trade. They have a large and well-appointed grocery store and employ three wagons in the delivery of their goods. They also have a number of wagons used in delivering their dairy products to the customers, their trade in that line being larger than that of any other dairy firm in the city.

Mr. Holmes was married on the 7th of June, 1892, the lady of his choice being Miss Grace S. Baily, a daughter of Lewis and Ann M. (Scott) Baily. Her father is engaged in the leather business in New York city, and is a veteran of the Seventh Regiment, New York State National Guard. Mrs. Holmes is an only daughter, and by her marriage she has two children, Dorothy Anna and Frank R. Mr. Holmes and his family occupy a very fine residence on Clinton Place, Chester Hill, Mount Vernon, and their home is the center of a cultured society circle. Mr. Holmes is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, F. & A. M., and Golden Rod Council, Royal Arcanum. His political support is given the men and measures of the Republican party, but office-holding has had no attraction for him, his attention being fully occupied with his extensive business interests and his social duties. His genial manner renders him popular in all circles, and he is accounted one of the leading and valued citizens of Mount Vernon.